US President Donald J Trump and King Salman bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia signed a $110bn arms deal, which is expected to support the Middle East nation’s defence needs.

The defence capabilities deal covers a package of defence equipment and services to support the long-term security of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region in the face of malign Iranian influence and Iranian related threats, The White House stated.

During the meeting, Trump and Salman bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud also signed a Joint Strategic Vision Statement to strengthen relations between the countries.

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of an estimated $10.5bn foreign military sale of integrated air and missile defense (IAMD) battle command system (IBCS) enabled Patriot Configuration-3+ weapon system with modernised sensors and components to Poland.

It also includes four AN/MPQ-65 radar sets, four engagement control stations and four radar interface units (RIU) modification kits to support Phase I of a two-phase programme for the IAMD IBCS-enabled Patriot system.

European guided-missile manufacturers MBDA and Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) agreed to cooperate on a number of a new naval and air-launched missile projects.

PGZ managing board president Arkadiusz Siwko said: “Following a month-long negotiations process we have reached an agreement on deep co-operation and exchange of technologies between the companies composing PGZ, and the facilities of MBDA.

“Thanks to this we are now confident that we can obtain the competencies and deliver a number of military programmes, especially the ‘Narew’ short-range air defence system, among others. This is a very important day for us, as it opens the perspective of co-operation between defence industries in European countries which are Nato members.”

US Senator and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker decided to withhold arms sales to member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) until they end the ongoing dispute with Qatar.

In a letter to US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Corker said: “I could not have been more pleased with the President’s recent trip to Saudi Arabia. The unity of the Gulf States and their commitment to security cooperation were welcome steps forward. We need to remain united in the face of rising threats from Iran and ISIS.”

The US Department of Defense (DoD) authorised several military bases across the country to destroy drones that are deemed as threats.

As part of the new policy, more than 130 military bases in the country can shoot down, destroy or seize both private and commercial drones flying illegally around their installations, Reuters reported.

US DoD spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis was quoted by media sources as saying: “The increase of commercial and private drones in the US has raised our concerns with regards to safety and security of our installations.”